POPE BENEDICT XVI quoted Blessed Mary MacKillop, Australia's
saint-in-waiting, last night in a call to World Youth Day pilgrims
to embrace the Holy Spirit and fulfil Christ's work.

A crowd of about 200,000 attended the Randwick racecourse vigil,
many having walked there from North Sydney and camped out
throughout the day to grab the best spots.

The pontiff told the multitudes: "And now, as we move towards
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, in stillness and expectation, I
echo to you the words spoken by Blessed Mary MacKillop when she was
just 26 years old: 'Believe in the whisperings of God to your
heart. Believe in him. Believe in the power of the spirit of
love'.

"Tonight I am praying for you and for young people throughout
the world. Be inspired by the example of your patrons. Accept into
your hearts and minds the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit.
Recognise and believe in the power of the spirit in your
lives."

He called on pilgrims to embrace Christ.

"This is the spirit's role: to bring Christ's work to
fulfilment. Enriched with the spirit's gifts, you will have the
power to move beyond the piecemeal, the hollow utopia, the
fleeting, to offer the consistency and certainty of Christian
witness," he said.

"To be truly alive is to be transformed from within, open to the
energy of God's love.

"In accepting the power of the Holy Spirit you too can transform
your families, communities and nations.

"Let wisdom, courage, awe and reverence be the marks of
greatness."

Pilgrims from around the world created a brilliant tapestry of
colour, dancing, singing and laughing, dancing the conga line
throughout the day and rejoicing in being together as they waited
for the Pope.

Diana Murguia, 20, from Mexico City, bagged a prize spot just
100 metres from the stage.

"We woke up at 5.30am and then we did the 10-kilometre walk from
North Sydney. I have a top spot here - thank God," she said.

Sydneysider Casey Maree de Souza, 23, from West Pennant Hills,
said: "I think it's fantastic to experience this with all these
people.

"You have people from all around the world who are seeing Sydney
at its best. Just walking from Central station here all the
volunteers, the police, and Sydneysiders have been so welcoming to
everybody here."

"You could compare it to being a rock star but it's so much more
than that because he represents so much," she said.

Nick Nabors, 17, and Josh Salame, 18, from Oregon, walked
through the crowds with cardboard signs proclaiming: "Free hugs
from the USA."

Mr Salame admitted: "It's a great way to meet girls."

The Americans had taken part in the pilgrimage walk to Randwick.
"We hiked for six miles to get here, which gave us plenty of time
to reflect," Nick said. "I spent a lot of time reflecting on how
much my feet were hurting."

Julie Pineault, 18, from British Columbia in Canada was
attending World Youth Day with her mother Christine, 47. "Imagine
if the world was like this all the time, it would be so united and
peaceful," she said.

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